Bardic Song questions

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I didn't understand what normal bard song does. (not the HLA which is clear enough)

I guess it is +1 luck bonus to just all rolls? It does NOT add a bonus to attack rolls, nor it adjusts THAC0, or saving throws as far as Character Record Sheet tells; so I thought at first it was useless.

BUT, that +1 luck actually changes the dice roll? So the affected can never have a roll of 1, a critical miss? A roll of 1 will be 2, a roll of 2 will be 3, and perhaps most importantly, a roll of 19 will be 20, effectively a critical hit?

I checked this. I made Jaheira battling the Iron Golem in Nalia's keep. Only she had a +3 weapon, namely that Club+3 from Improved Ilych. So rest of the party (Nalia, Jan, My chorister and arcane fist, plus spiffy Nathaniel) stood at the back whilst Jaheira gulped a potion of giant str (24) and oil of speed and started bashing, while protected by IronSkins.

I had both my Chorister and Arcane Fist (they are all bard kits) sing. This gave Jaheira a luck bonus of +2? I noticed she never critical missed during the fact, is this the case? Oh, and she got many good critical hits.

So am I right to assume that bard song is cumulative and adds +1 bonus to every roll? Including attack, damage, saving throw, thief skills, etc?

What say you?

[ April 15, 2006, 14:56: Message edited by: Silverstar ]

 

Yes. I'm not sure about the critical thing since it is supposed to be the natural (unadjusted) roll that determines it, but you never know what they might have screwed up. Of course, your experience could just have been RNG quirkyness.

 

That's what I noticed, Jaheira had normally a plus to her attack roll due to her massive STR (24, thanks to potion) and specialisation in clubs. When TWO bards started singing, she did not have an additional bonus to her attack roll, nor did her base THAC0 changed. I checked these via combat screen and character record. (My combat screen gives me all detailed info about dice rolled, bonuses applied etc)

So I assume the 'song' directly affects the dice rolls, I mean, a roll of 1 becomes 3, and a roll of 18 or better are considered 20 thanks to +2 luck factor added by two singing bards?

I am only assuming, I can't be sure.

But if it is true, bard songs are very kewl indeed. If it is not true, then..well I can't find bonus it gives, at least it is not recorded in character record or combat screen.

 

According to my (limited) experience with Bards, I think that you are right.But I cannot be sure...

P.S. Where is Scythesong when we need him ?

 

^Then this opens new strategies...Imagine mislead chores. Ofcourse, it will be even better with Improved Bard Song, but even normal song can be spiffy, a cumulative +4 luck bonus is a real boon if it is indeed like I assumed it to be.

 

Yes, but do not abuse it

 

I will try my best not to embrace the evil and stinky cheesy ways again...

But if my bardic couple does not have anything left to do, sure they will sing, like the example above!